Settling in...

We've been on the road for 1.5 weeks now and things have finally started settling down - we are in one place for 2.5 weeks, can get into a semi routine and have a lot of support from the family that we are here visiting. I guess it also helps that Baby Boy's lower eye teeth both made an appearance in the last few days, so he is a much happier chappy!

So far Daddy Arnold and I have been able to do a lot with our little man in tow.  We went down to Niagara Falls for a night, he has had sleepovers with his grandma, he has charmed all of his aunts, uncles, grandparents and extended family and even had his first haircut. 

I guess last weeks statement that one should avoid travelling with a baby at all costs was perhaps a bit of an over reaction as things are much calmer this week. I just hope that not rigidly sticking to our schedule (feeding/rocking Baby Boy to sleep, later bedtime than usual...) isn't going to bite me in the butt when we get home.

xx. Mummy Arnold.

The first week...

We are about five days into our trip and my advice for anyone thinking about travelling halfway around the world with an 11 month old is: DON'T DO IT!!!

The long haul flight from Perth to Las Vegas was relatively smooth. Baby Boy is not the greatest sleeper at the best of times and so, over the course of the 24 hour flight, he slept a total of about 5 hours (even though we had a bassinet for 23 of the 24 hours). Although he was awake, he was happy, calm and quiet, so we coped. For our three days in Las Vegas he was out of sorts - he was quiet, cranky, clingy and wouldn't eat (this is not like my super energetic, busy, noisy and hungry child) - he finally started being himself again just as we were due to fly from Vegas to Canada.

We caught the red eye thinking it would be the smartest option as Baby Boy would sleep the whole way. Boy, were we wrong. We were that family with the screaming baby for five hours on a red eye flight. Shoot me, shoot me now!

So suffice to say, not only is Baby Boy tired, but I am tired and so is Daddy Arnold. Off to bed now.

xx. Mummy Arnold.

Preparation (or in my case: procrastination, stress and throwing random things in a suitcase the night before)...

Bright and early Tuesday morning, Daddy Arnold, Baby Boy and I are heading off to Canada to see Daddy Arnold's family and introduce them to Baby Boy. Back in January we took baby boy to sydney and he coped exceptionally well with the flight. But that was only 5 hours and this time we are talking about 24 hours on a plane with an 11 month old who hates sitting still and loves making noise...

I am trying not to think too much about the flight - what will be will be. There is no other way to get to Canada and there is nothing we can do about it - worrying will not solve a thing. That is a huge sentiment coming from a long time worrier ("Hi, my name is Mummy Arnold and I am a worry addict. I have been clean for 3 hours and 27 minutes").

We have decided to pack light - which is almost a more difficult task than packing everything, which is how I normally pack - between the three of us we are taking one suitcase, two carry-on bags and the pram in its carry case. And we haven't even started packing eeek. I think I will deal with the limited space by taking only what we need for the flight for baby boy; we can buy nappies, wipes, cream, etc once we get there. Then for Daddy Arnold and I, we'll have to restrict ourselves to 4 everyday outfits and 1 good outfit. We're staying with the inlaws so we can wash regularly, but for 3 and a half weeks, I'm going to be struggling...

As far as the plane ride is concerned, my moto is to just keep him full. Boob on take off and landing and an infinite supply of yoghurt, meat and vegetables, fruit, crackers and sultanas in between.

Wish me luck.

Oh, and if you have any tips for travelling with babies, I would love to hear them, so please share them below.

xx. Mummy Arnold.